ELKHART — Pictures of Tracy Grant’s family hang on the walls of her living room,

There are photos of her youngest son, Kevrin Grant, 15 months old, and Damaris McGhee, 6.

One of the inspirational quotes there says, “Family, one of life’s greatest blessings.”

She’s spent the last year helping one of her sons recover from nearly dying. And finding new ways to believe that quote.

On Aug. 21, 2011, Grant’s brother, Brian Grant, accidentally shot Damaris.

Grant was convicted of unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon and criminal recklessness. He is scheduled to be released in six years, while Damaris has recovered well.

He spent five weeks at Riley Hospital for Children before coming home. Grant said that she had to teach him everything – including walking, talking and using the restroom.

“When he got home, he needed more attention than my baby,” she said.

Damaris is on medication for trouble sleeping and ADHD, both of which are a result of the shooting. Grant said she owes more than $2 million in medical bills, divided between Riley and IU Health Methodist. Medicaid will cover some of that amount, but she isn’t sure how much. She has a fund at Teachers Credit Union that she uses to pay her bills. People can still donate to the Damaris McGhee fund.

The bullet hit the part of McGhee’s brain that is responsible for comprehension, she said, as well as blinding him in his left eye. The problems he has now are things he could be dealing with forever.

Before the shooting, Damaris was a happy, easygoing child. Grant said he listened and obeyed her.

“He was the best kid ever,” she said.

He was on medical restrictions for eight months after the shooting, but has been off them for about four months. He has psychologist visits every week, goes to a psychiatrist every three weeks and goes to Riley every three to six months for check-ups with his doctors. After the shooting, he had night terrors and woke up saying things like, “Don’t point that at me.” Now, he just can’t sleep.

“I’m pretty sure he’s afraid to close his eyes,” Grant said.

The first time Grant saw her brother after the shooting was his sentencing in December. She said all they could do was look at each other and cry.

Grant says she’s not angry anymore, but Damaris still carries some anger. “He asked me, is it OK if I still love him?”

Grant said that he is supposed to love him.

“We’re still blood,” she said. “I can’t really hold a grudge.”

When Kristyana Jackson was shot on Aug. 17, Grant said that she broke down. The shooting was a few days before the anniversary of Damaris’ shooting. Jackson died on Aug. 19, a Sunday, the same day of the week that Damaris was shot.

She went to the vigil in honor of Jackson, but struggled to talk to the parents. They have a mutual friend, and Grant told her that the Jacksons could call her to talk.

“I felt that mom’s pain,” she said.

Grant works now and takes care of 15-month-old Kevrin and Damaris, whose father is not involved with the family. Sometimes she gets overwhelmed, though she says she’s not angry anymore. Grant wants to be a motivational speaker, to go to schools to talk to kids about drugs and guns. Maybe she would pair up with Kristyana’s mother, she said.

As for Damaris’ recovery goes, his mother has hope.

“I’m more than hopeful,” she said. “He’s going to be something big. He’s capable of many things.”